Announcing PLMConnect - Connecting Fusion 360 Manage and Upchain
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The vdR Group is thrilled to announce the launch of PLMConnect! PLMConnect enables Fusion 360 Manage (F3M) and Upchain to seamlessly work together. We think it’s a big deal. With F3M and Upchain now being sold together as a single product by Autodesk, PLMConnect ensures these products perform as a best-in-class PLM platform with true SaaS and multi-CAD capabilities. While there are a few other cloud-based PLM solutions, many are simply on-prem solutions repurposed for the cloud. Then there is the matter of CAD integrations. Ubiquitous CAD integrations have been the vision of Upchain from the very beginning … at no extra charge! This includes integrations with AutoCAD, Inventor, Catia v5, NX, Creo, Solidworks and Altium Designer. There are literally less than a handful of PLM vendors that offer built-in CAD integrations ... and if supported, it’s for a limited number of CAD platforms.
PLMConnect is a big deal for existing users of F3M and Upchain. Why? When they renew, they now get both platforms and are on the cusp of a true cloud-based PLM solution. CAD users have full check-in check-out capabilities via Upchain. Once parts and assemblies are ready to move on, they are automatically moved into F3M. If a released part needs to be changed, a change request in Upchain or problem report in F3M activates a corresponding workflow in the corresponding system. Ongoing handshaking takes place between the workflow processes ensuring complete synchronization between the two environments. This effectively combines the benefits of product data management (PDM) and PLM.
PLMConnect is a big deal for new prospects exploring PLM. If the need is for true SaaS (no IT, automatic updates, uptime assurance, etc.), support for multiple CAD platforms, and full configuration management and workflow capabilities, then this bundled package of ‘Fusion 360 Manage with Upchain’ with PLMConnect represents a leading candidate to consider.
PLMConnect is built on a platform that does not require any downloads to integrate the two solutions. And yes, we think this is a big deal as well. The install operation is comprised of authenticating end points, configuring workflow events, and testing. All of which is completed in a few hours and facilitated by vdR. Once the environment is up and running, vdR leverages the SaaS architecture to address any updates and changes. It is all transparent to the users.
Here is another reason why PLMConnect is a big deal … PLMConnect Extensions. The engine used for PLMConnect is also a gateway to other enterprise applications. This include enterprise resources management (ERP), enterprise content management (ECM), manufacturing execution systems (MES), configure, price and quote (CPQ) and other engineering/manufacturing-oriented applications.
PLMConnect Extensions is effectively the glue for enabling the digital thread. Simply put, the idea of the digital thread is to link data generated from across the product lifecycle of activities - not just PDM and PLM. There is a lot of buzz around this concept. Analysts, software vendors, and industry thought leaders all echo its importance and value. Organizations may use different phrases (i.e. digital thread, digital transformation, industry 4.0, etc. …), but they want and need improved efficiencies, the ability to streamline processes, automate menial and repetitive tasks, and ultimately improve their performance and competitiveness. PLMConnect Extensions is the enabling technology.